Cannot change seat reservation unless pay £10

[talldave]

In any case, those with babies/children already get more than enough consideration:...

Added to which, this thread is about an admin fee being charged to the friend of a mother and baby, so the mother/baby aspect is irrelevant!

 

[infobleep]

In any case, those with babies/children already get more than enough consideration:

1. Totally free travel for under 5s;
2. Family Railcard allowing a parent and child to travel for *less* than an adult would pay to travel alone;
3. Half fare for other children.

I see no reason to give them any more special treatment than they already have.
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Sorry, I meant "where reservations are available *and* formation is known". Reservations indeed don't work on commuter trains (LM tried and failed).

Reservations were on the Weymouth services but they removed them. Technically you could put reservations on any service that has a slot to hold a reservation ticket.

Don't the 450s and 444 trains on the Portsmouth Harbour route even have a slot where a reservation ticket could be placed.

Not saying they would want to offer a reservation.

 

[IanD]

Finally, the admin effort: When I had a seat reservation changed a few months ago it took literally a minute. Maybe a charge of 50p would be more like it. Or even a pound. That would cover costs and be passenger friendly.

Perhaps they need to charge because they make such a lost on all the administration for other tickets that they are not allowed to charge for.

I raised this very same point on a thread a while back and was shouted down - apparently the fee is designed to act as a deterrent of some sort. TOCs should only be allowed to charge according to the cost to them to perform the transaction. £10 for 1 minute's work is ridiculous! They are allowed to charge an admin fee "which may be up to £10" but it seems it's always £10 or nothing so why bother with the "up to" bit?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Some TOCs used to charge only £5 but all are I think now £10.

 

[extendedpaul]

Slightly OT but always worth checking Megatrain for journeys between London and Leicester (also Nottingham, Sheffield etc.).

Usually cheaper, sit where you like and only 50p to amend journey.

 

[Romilly]

Certainly worth considering. Looking at weekdays in late November/early December, the first Leicester-London train that megatrain tickets are available on is the 12noon, and the only evening London-Leicester train they are available on is the 2030, with prices in the range £8 to £18 (plus 50p booking fee) one-way. Megatrain tickets are (in effect) "Advance" (i.e. booked train only) tickets but, as extendedpaul says, without seat reservations.

Changing to a different train involves paying any extra due by way of fare, plus a 50p change fee, plus a 50p booking fee.

 

[suzanneparis]

Thanks everyone very kind of you to be so helpful.

Yes, £10 to change a seat reservation seems OTT to me...... still I am sure the TOCs have a different point of view.

I do often check megatrain.